-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An Iraqi official condemned Friday the decision by a U.S. jury not to sentence a U.S. soldier to death .

Former U.S. soldier Steven Green faces life in prison after being convicted of murdering an Iraqi family .

`` He raped a girl and killed an entire family , and he got only life in prison . ... This is an unjust trial , '' said Mustafa Kamel Shabib al-Jabouri , leader of the Awakening Council in Yusufiya . `` We demand a new trial . ''

Steven Green was found guilty earlier this month of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and of murdering her , her parents and her 6-year-old sister .

He was the last of five soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division convicted in the crimes and the cover-up that followed .

During Green 's trial , relatives of the murder victims gave gripping testimony about how the crimes still haunt them . Some family members said their lives have been ruined and it would have been better if they 'd also been killed .

Thursday , Green avoided the death penalty when a Kentucky jury could not reach a unanimous decision .

Green was tried in civilian court because he had been discharged from the Army by the time his crimes came to light . The three others were tried by a military court and imprisoned .

Spc. James Barker , Sgt. Paul Cortez , Pfc. Jesse Spielman and Pfc. Bryan Howard received sentences ranging from 27 months to 110 years , with the possibility of parole in 10 years in the most severe cases .

After the trial , defense attorneys called for the military to `` take a hard look at the resources they provide our service members dealing with combat stress issues . If they do not , we -LSB- are -RSB- certain a tragedy like this will occur again in the future . ''

Doug Green , Steven 's brother , said he was grateful his brother 's life was spared . `` I was incredibly relieved , '' he said . `` This is as good as it gets . ''

He also offered an apology .

`` Our hearts and prayers are with you . We 're sorry . We 're sorry , '' he said . `` This has been hard for everybody involved . Not just my family , but the Iraqis . Everybody is going to need some healing . ''

`` I think it is hard for any one of us to put on those shoes , '' he said . `` Unless you have been to Iraq and fought in that war , or fought in any war , it is impossible to know what they are going through and impossible to judge them . ''

The murders of members of the al-Janabi family occurred in 2006 near Yusufiya , about 20 miles south of Baghdad .

CNN 's Deb Feyerick contributed to this report .

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NEW : Leader of Yusufiya , Iraq , Awakening Council demands ex-soldier be retried

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NEW : `` He ... killed an entire family , '' says Mustafa Kamel Shabib al-Jabouri

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`` Defendant 's brother Doug Green tells victims ' kin : `` We 're sorry . We 're sorry ''

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Steven Green was last soldier from 101st Airborne Division convicted in 2006 crime